Japanese holly plant named ‘Drops of Gold’

ABSTRACT

A new variety of  Ilex crenata  plant is provided that is well suited for growing as attractive ornamentation in the landscape. The new variety is believed to be a spontaneous mutation of unknown causation of the ‘Hetzii’ variety (non-patented in the United States). The foliage of the new variety is particularly distinctive and when exposed to full sun during its formation is dark glossy green with irregular bright golden yellow variegation. An attractive broad upright spreading growth habit is displayed. Dioecious female function flower are formed. Good hardiness is displayed in U.S.D.A. Hardiness Zone No. 6a.

Botanical/commercial classification: Ilex crenata / Japanese HollyPlant.

Varietal denomination: cv. ‘Drops of Gold’.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new variety of the present invention is a distinctive variegatedsport of Ilex crenata, ‘Hetzii’ (non-patented in the United States).Holly plants of this species sometimes are known as Japanese Holly.

A single plant of the new variety was discovered during November 1987while growing in a block of Ilex crenata ‘Hetzii’ plants in a cultivatedarea of my nursery at Geneva, Ohio. This new variety is believed to be aspontaneous mutation of unknown causation. I was attracted to the newvariety in view of its distinctive combination of characteristics. Hadthe new variety not been discovered and preserved by me it would havebeen lost to mankind.

It was found that the new Japanese Holly variety of the presentinvention exhibits the following combination of characteristics:

(a) when exposed to full sun during formation the foliage is dark glossygreen with irregular bright golden yellow variegation that is absent inthe parent ‘Hetzii’ variety,

(b) exhibits an attractive broad upright spreading growth habit,

(c) forms dioecious female functional flowers, and

(d) has proven to be hardy in U.S.D.A. Hardiness Zone No. 6A.

It has been observed that brightest foliage variegation is manifest whenthe new growth emerges and matures in full sun. Some leaves arecompletely bright golden yellow in coloration when growth occurs in fullsun. When shoots are formed and mature in more shaded areas theycommonly do not show the yellow variegation even when subsequentlyexposed to full fun.

The new variety of the present invention can be readily distinguishedfrom its ‘Hetzii’ parent variety by the presence of the illustrateddistinctive variegation of the leaves. Such variegation is totallylacking on the ‘Hetzii’ variety.

A five year-old plant of the variety has been observed to exhibit aheight of approximately 18 inches and a width of approximately 24 to 32inches. The maximum plant dimensions for the new variety are unknown.However, it is estimated that a fully mature height of approximately 5to 7 feet and width of approximately 10 to 12 feet likely will beachieved by the new variety. Plants of the new variety tend to growrapidly immediately following asexual propagation.

The new variety of the present invention well meets the needs of thehorticultural industry and can be grown in full sun to providedistinctive ornamentation. For instance, it can be grown to advantage asa colorful low hedge or as a specimen or container plant in thelandscape.

The new variety of the present invention has been asexually reproducedby the use of terminal hardwood cuttings taken in November or earlyDecember at West Grove, Pa. and at Geneva, Ohio. It has beendemonstrated that the unique combination of characteristics is firmlyestablished and is transmitted to successive generations following suchasexual propagation.

The new variety has been named ‘Drops of Gold.’

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show typical specimens of the new varietywhile growing at West Grove, Pa. in color as nearly true as it isreasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of thischaracter. The photographs were taken during the late fall of 2002. Theillustrated five year-old plant was growing on its own roots in acontainer in a nursery in an unheated tunnel structure that wascompletely open to the environment from early April throughmid-November, and was covered with translucent white polyethylenesheeting from mid-November to early April. The illustrated two year-oldplant was grown in a greenhouse until late May and then was transferredto the same unheated tunnel structure. The reduced expression of theyellow variegation on shoots of the two year-old plants can beattributed to their initial development under a lower light environmentin a greenhouse just prior to moving to the higher light environmentwhere they assumed more variegation prior to reaching maturity.Dimensions in centimeters are indicated at the bottom of eachphotograph.

FIG. 1—Illustrates specimens of mature current season terminal shoots ofthe five year-old plant. The top shoot displays a ventral (upper) view,and the lower shoot displays a dorsal (under) view.

FIG. 2—Illustrates specimens of mature current season terminal shoots ofthe two year-old plant. The top shoot displays a ventral (upper) view,and the lower shoot displays a dorsal (under) view.

FIG. 3—Illustrates specimens of current season mature leaves of the fiveyear-old plant. The upper row of leaves displays ventral (upper) viewsand the lower row of leaves displays dorsal (under) views.

FIG. 4—Illustrates specimens of current season mature leaves of a twoyear-old plant. The upper row of leaves displays ventral (upper) viewsand the lower row of leaves displays dorsal (under) views.

FIG. 5—Illustrates a specimen of the top canopy of shoots of the fiveyear-old plant which was grown in full sun during the summer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following is a detailed description of the new variety that wasobtained while observing the plants that are illustrated in thephotographs. Such plants had been propagated by the use of hardwoodcuttings and were growing except were otherwise indicated in containersat West Grove, Pa. while present in the tunnel structure where they werefully exposed to the environment from early April through mid-November,and were covered with white polyethylene sheeting during the winter. Theplants received no supplemental heating. The chart used in theidentification of color is The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The RoyalHorticultural Society, London, England. Common color terms are to beaccorded their customer dictionary significance. The inflorescenceinformation was obtained at Geneva, Ohio on Jul. 1, 2002.

Botanical classification: Ilex crenata, cv. ‘Drops of Gold’.

Parent.—‘Hetzii’ variety (non-patented in the United States).

Plant:

Type.—Hardy evergreen shrub for garden decoration and general landscapeuse.

Growth habit.—Broad, upright spreading and broader than tall.

Height.—Approximately 18 inches at an age of five years.

Width.—Approximately 24 to 32 inches at an age of five years.

Leaves:

Type.—Evergreen, broad, and simple.

Blade length.—Approximately 17.5 to 36.5 mm with an average ofapproximately 25.2 mm.

Blade width.—Approximately 9.75 to 14.0 mm with an average ofapproximately 11.98 mm.

Petiole.—Approximately 2.0 to 4.5 mm in length with an average ofapproximately 3.4 mm. Approximately 0.8 to 1.1 mm in diameter with anaverage of approximately 0.95 mm.

Margins.—Crenate, serrate, and revolute.

Apex.—Broadly obtuse (rounded), and mucronate.

Base.—Narrowly cuneate.

Texture.—Coriaceous.

Arrangement.—Alternate.

Venation.—Pinnately veined.

Color.—Mature Foliage (Five Year-Old Plant) Upper (Ventral) Surface: Theall-green leaves and the distinctly green areas most distant from theyellow areas of the variegated foliage are near and through Green Group139A to near and through Yellow-Green Group 147A. Approaching the areasof yellow variegation the green coloration is near and through GreenGroup 137A to 137B to Yellow-Green Group 146A to 146D. The variegatedareas range from near and through Yellow-Green Group 153D to YellowGroup 9A and 9B in the darker areas, and Yellow Group 5D, 6D, 8C, 9A,9B, 10A, 10B and 11A in lighter areas. Under (Dorsal) Surface: Theall-green leaves and the distinctly green areas most distant from theyellow areas of the variegated foliage are near Yellow-Green Group 146Bto 146C. The variegated areas range from near Yellow Group 8C to nearand through Yellow Group 10B, 10C, and 11B. Mature Foliage (Two Year-OldPlant): Upper (Ventral) Surface: The all green leaves and the distinctlygreen areas most distant from the yellow areas of the variegated foliageare near and through Green Group 137A, 137B, and 137C near the midrib tonear and through Yellow-Green Group 147A. The variegated areas rangefrom Yellow Group 8C, Yellow Groups 12A, to near and through YellowGroup 13A. The midrib is Yellow Group 2C. Under (Dorsal) Surface: Theall green leaves and the distinctly green areas most distance from theyellow areas of variegated foliage are near and through Yellow-GreenGroup 144A. The variegated areas are near and through Yellow-Green Group143C, Yellow-Green Group 144A, and Yellow-Green Group 153B to 153Dnearest the yellow areas. The yellow areas are near and throughYellow-Orange Group 14C, Yellow-Orange Group 15C, and Yellow-OrangeGroups 16B.

Petioles.—Color: Five Year-Old Plant: Range near and through YellowGroup 9C and Yellow Group 10B. Two Year-Old Plant: The ventral surfacedisplays Greyed-Purple Group 186A to 186C, and the dorsal surfacedisplays Greyed-Purple Group 187A to 187B.

Stems.—Color: Five Year-Old Plant: The current season's growth rangesfrom Greyed-Orange Group 165B to 165C to Greyed-Red Group 180C, 181D,182B to 182C to Greyed-Brown Group 199B to 199C. Older stems of 2 to 4years display Greyed-Green Group 197A and near and through Grey Group201A. Two Year-Old Plant: The current season's growth ranges fromRed-Purple Group 59A and 71A through Purple Group 79A to 79C. Olderstems of 2 years display areas of Greyed-Green Group 197A to near andthrough Grey Group 201A.

Inflorescence:

Type.—Axillary, usually solitary to rarely with 2- or 3-flowered cymes.

Bearing.—On current season's growth.

Time.—Commonly mid- to late-May to early-June.

Size.—Approximately 4 mm in diameter.

Petal color.—Dull green-white, Green-White Group 157B at first opening,and Green-White Group 157C to 157D and White Group 155C at petal drop.

Petal number.—Commonly 4, and very rarely 5.

Petal shape.—Ovate.

Pistil.—One per flower. The plant dioecious for all practical purposesand bears flowers that are only female functional.

Stamen.—Four in number, and do not project beyond the corolla withrudimentary anthers. The male parts are non-funtional.

Fragrance.—None observed.

Peduncle.—Approximately 3.8 mm in length on average.

Fruit.—None observed.

Disease resistance: No special susceptibility or resistance to commonIlex diseases or pests has been observed to date under commercialgrowing conditions and when grown in unsprayed areas.

The new ‘Drops of Gold’ variety has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions to date. Thus, it possible that some variationin phenotypic expression may be displayed under different lightintensity and duration and different cultural conditions.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct Japanese Holly plant having the followingcombination of characteristics: (a) when exposed to full sun duringformation the foliage is dark glossy green with irregular bright goldenyellow variegation that is absent in the parent ‘Hetzii’ variety, (b)exhibits an attractive broad upright spreading growth habit, (c) formsdioecious female functional flowers, and, (d) has proven to be hardy inU.S.D.A. Hardiness Zone No. 6A; substantially as herein shown anddescribed.